Surge in Benadryl Poisonings Linked to Social Media Craze

WHO:

ABC News - America's Poison Centers reported an increase in calls related to diphenhydramine among teens.

LiveNOW from FOX - The Connecticut Office of the Child Advocate (OCA) confirmed three children died from diphenhydramine overdoses.

LiveNOW from FOX - Noelia Swymeler, a pediatric resident physician at the University of Oklahoma at Tulsa School of Community Medicine, commented on the "Benadryl Challenge."

WHAT:

ABC News - Calls to poison centers involving diphenhydramine among teens in the first five months of 2026 were more than double compared to the same period in 2025.

ABC News - In 2024, there were 10,068 poison center calls involving diphenhydramine among teens; this rose to 13,284 in 2025, a nearly 32% increase.

ABC News - In the first five months of 2026, there were 6,179 calls involving diphenhydramine among teens ages 13 to 19.

LiveNOW from FOX - The OCA could not confirm the ages of the deceased children or the timing of their deaths.

LiveNOW from FOX - The FDA warns that diphenhydramine misuse can lead to serious heart problems, seizures, coma, or death.

ABC News - Symptoms of diphenhydramine poisoning can include extreme drowsiness, agitation, hallucinations, seizures, dangerous heart rhythm problems, and loss of consciousness.

WHERE:

LiveNOW from FOX - The deaths occurred in Connecticut.

WHEN:

ABC News - The advisory from America's Poison Centers was obtained in 2026.

ABC News - The three children in Connecticut died from overdoses over the last two months.

WHY:

ABC News - The increase in diphenhydramine exposure appears to be driven by teens using the drug intentionally to get high rather than through accidental medication errors.

LiveNOW from FOX - The "Benadryl Challenge" encourages kids to take dangerous amounts of diphenhydramine to experience a high and hallucinations.

HOW:

ABC News - Diphenhydramine is the active ingredient in Benadryl and some over-the-counter sleep aids.

LiveNOW from FOX - The FDA advises storing diphenhydramine and other medicines out of children's reach and sight, preferably locked.

(UPDATED June 12, 2026 08:25 UTC)

Calls to America's Poison Centers regarding diphenhydramine among teens have surged, with reports indicating that in the first five months of 2026, there were 6,179 calls, more than double the number from the same period in 2025. Tragically, the Connecticut Office of the Child Advocate confirmed that three children died from diphenhydramine overdoses over the last two months, although their ages and the exact timing of their deaths remain unverified. Experts, including pediatric resident Noelia Swymeler, have linked this alarming trend to the "Benadryl Challenge," where teens intentionally misuse the drug to achieve a high, prompting warnings from the FDA about the serious risks associated with diphenhydramine misuse.